Safety swimming device



Oct. 7,1930. F. N. MIKUS 1,777,413

SAPBTY SIIIIING DEVICE Filed Nov. 26, 1929 4- IN VEN TOR.

M iii ATTORNEY by blowing into said tube.

Patented Oct. 7, 1930 FRANK 1\T; MIKUS, or YOUNGSTQWNZOHIQ SAFETY swIM IN'o-Dnvrcn I.

Application filed November 26, 1929. SerialNo. 409,823.

This invention relates to safety device for preserving life, and more particularly to a device used by persons swimming or those involuntarily compelled to take to the water.

The principal object is to provide a device that is inflatable in order to give desired buoyancy to the person-wearing the same to prevent drowning.

A still further object is to provide a pair of wings which act in a dual manner. One function is to provide desirable buoyancy and the other is to provide means for preventing undesirable rolling or turning from face to back or from the back to the face of a person swimming or floating in the water.

Withthe foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the conibi nation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Throughout the following detailed description and on the several figures of the drawings similar parts are referred to by like references of characters.

Specifically describing my device by referring to the drawing, 1 designates a body member and 2 designates an elastic collar. It will be understood that my device is to be made of any material desired capable of being inflated and for this purpose I have provided a tube 3 having therein provided a valve adaptedto automatically close when the device has been inflated in a usual manner The body memher 1 is provided with two depending side portions 4 and a pair of wings 5 which are positioned slightly back and aboveshoulders of person wearing the device. These wings are inflatable, but in order to provide desirable strength so that the same will not bend easily I have provided a rib 6 which is formed near the upper edge of each wing.

In order to provide against undesirable friction or lessening the probability of puncturing when a person is wearing the device I have provided'a rib 7 which is formed in a perpendicular line running from the center elastic collar at point 8 to a center lower point 9 of the body member 1.

By referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the device is provided with rear edges 10 which are joined by elastic members 11 for the purpose of holding the device in a snug position about the person wearing the same. By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I have provided an air'punip 12 which is positioned in one of the sideportions 4 in order that the wearer may be able to more completely fill the device with air than would be possible by blowing into the tube 3.

It will be seen that when the device has v been positioned upon the wearer the arms of the wearer extend from the arm holes 13 of the device.

It is obvious that this safety swimming device when used by inexperienced swimmers and children bathing on the beach or in swimming pools will practically eliminate all possibility of drowning by those who use the same. It will also be useful to swimmers in swimming long distances in that the wings will not be in any great obstruction to the swiinmers forward movement but will be of great advantage in holding the person in a buoyed position so that the swimmer may exercise a great deal of energy or very slight depending upon the wearers skill as a swunmer.

It is also obvious that a person wearing this suit is practically secure against sudden cramps which oftencause death by drowning.

What I claim is s 1. p In a device of the class described, a body member, of an inflatable character, depend- 05 ing side portions, an elastic collar, a pair of inflatable wings secured to said body portion said wings being positioned in an oppositely disposed position positioned above and back of shoulders of wearer of said device, a tube with valve therein for the purpose of inflating the device, a rib formed on each wing, a center rib formed on said body portion.

2. In a device of the class described, a body member of an inflatable character, depending side portions, an elastic collar, a pair of inflatable wings secured to said body portion, said wings being positioned in an oppositely disposed position positioned above and back of shoulders of wearer of said device, means for inflating the device In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. I

FRANK N. "MIKUS. 

